JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-7
spaceship will carry Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng, all aged 42,for
China's third manned space mission that will feature China's "first step in the
space."
The trio taikonauts met a press conference Wednesday
afternoon at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province of
northwestern China, before attempting China's first-ever space walk.
The Shenzhou-7 spaceship is due to blast off on a Long
March II-F rocket on Thursday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu
province of northwestern China. The launch window was set between 9:07 p.m. to
10:27 p.m. (Beijing Time).
The press conference did not reveal which two of the
three-man crew would carry out the country's first extravehicular activities.
A man taks a photo of Chinese taikonauts
(L-R) Jing Haipeng, Zhai Zhigang and Liu Boming during a press conference
at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu
Province, Sept. 24, 2008. The Shenzhou-7 spaceship will carry the three
taikonauts, all aged 42, for China's third manned space mission that will
include the country's first-ever space walk.(Xinhua Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
"The
Shenzhou-7 mission marks a historic breakthrough in China's manned space
program. It is a great honor for all three of us to fly the mission, and we are
fully prepared for the challenge," Zhai Zhigang told the press conference.
"I have been included in the final training for three
times during the Shenzhou 5, 6 and 7 missions," he said, "I am looking forward
to working with my colleagues from overseas in the future."
Liu Boming said ten years of working, studying and
training together has contributed to the smooth cooperation among the trio.
According to Liu, only one taikonaut will perform the
space walk assisted by a second taikonaut in the orbit module. The third
astronaut will remain in the re-entry module during the whole process of the
space walk.
"We will support and cooperate with each other during
the mission to make sure it ends with a success," he said.
Jing Haipeng also said the trio are confident, and
capable of making "Chinese astronauts' first step in the space."
"The taikonauts have made every preparation for the
mission. What they need the most tonight is a good night sleep," said Huang
Weifen, deputy chief designer of the astronaut system under China's manned space
program.
The pilots were chosen from the first group of
fourteen Chinese astronauts selected in 1998 based on their physical and
psychological conditions as well as their technical skills, according to Zhang
Jianqi, deputy chief commander of the Shenzhou-7 mission.
"All the 14 taikonauts were graded on a daily basis
on every single movement during their training," said Zhang.
"The top six candidates were picked for the final
training for Shenzhou-7 mission. They were then divided into two teams with the
top three forming the first trio," he said.
Chinese taikonauts (L-R) Jing Haipeng,
Zhai Zhigang and Liu Boming wave during a press conference at the Jiuquan
Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, Sept. 24,
2008. The Shenzhou-7 spaceship will carry the three taikonauts, all aged
42, for China's third manned space mission that will include the country's
first-ever space walk.(Xinhua Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
Following
is a brief intro to the trio.
-- Zhai Zhigang was born in Longjiang County,
Qiqihar, Heilongjiang province. Zhai enrolled at the People's Liberation Army
Air Force Aviation Institute and studied to be a fighter pilot. In his service
as a PLAAF fighter pilot he had accumulated 950 hours of safe flight time.
He was one of three astronauts who were part of the
final group to train for the Shenzhou 5 flight in 2003. Yang Liwei was picked
for the flight, with Zhai Zhigang ranked second ahead of Nie Haisheng. Zhai was
also one of the six astronauts in the final training for Shenzhou 6 mission in
2005 during which Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng flew the flight.
-- Jing Haipeng was born in Yuncheng city, Shanxi
Province. Jing joined the People's Liberation Army in 1985 and has clocked 1,200
hours of safe flight time. Jing was among the six trainees in for the Shenzhou 6
mission in 2005.
-- Liu Boming was born in Yi'an county, Heilongjiang
province. Liu joined the People's Liberation Army in 1985 and has clocked 1,050
hours of safe flight time. Liu was also one of the six astronauts in the final
training for Shenzhou 6 mission in 2005.
A second trio of taikonauts including Chen Quan, Nie
Haisheng, and Fei Junlong will be on standby in case of last-minute problems
with the first crew before the launch. Nie and Fei flew on China's second manned
space flight in October 2005 for a five-day mission.
(Reporting by Xu Zhuangzhi, Lin Jianyang, Li
Xuanliang, Gong Linmeng in Jiuquan, and Bai Ruixue in Beijing, Writing by Wang
Cong)
Chinese taikonauts (Front,L-R) Jing
Haipeng, Zhai Zhigang and Liu Boming attend a departure ceremony in
Beijing, Sept. 24, 2008. The Shenzhou-7 spaceship will carry the three
taikonauts, all aged 42, for China's third manned space mission that will
include the country's first-ever space walk. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China will launch its
third manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu
province in the northwest on Thursday, a spokesperson with China's manned space
program said on Wednesday. Full story
JIUQUAN, Gansu, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's Shenzhou-7
mission headquarters has decided to load fuel into a Long-March II-F carrier
rocket, that will launch the capsule and three Chinese taikonauts (astronauts)
into space on Thursday. Full story
JIUQUAN, Gansu,
Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Six taikonauts (astronauts) selected for China's Shenzhou-7
space mission are in final training for the launch sometime from Sept. 25 to 30,
says a senior mission official.
The candidates for the three-man mission rehearse basic
procedures every day and study manuals to maintain their skills, Huang Weifen,
deputy chief designer of the mission's flight system, said on Tuesday. Full story
